This week, video showing the slow, brutal death of George Floyd, was released. He was suffocated to death when Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis police officer, knelt on his neck for five minutes. Three additional officers Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J Alexander Kueng, stood by and watched. The officers have been fired, but so far no one has been arrested. Earlier this month, video was released of the shooting of Ahmaud Arbery, who was ambushed and shot by two white men, one... Read more
This is the first post in a series I will be writing about pornography. Please be aware that the following content will discuss porn and sexuality and may include strong language. All boys watch porn. I’m not sure how old I was when I first heard this maxim. I do know that I believed it with absolute certainty by the time I was in sixth grade. I knew that the first boy I kissed would have already witnessed grown adults... Read more
Wedding season is upon us. For those of us who are young adults, the months between May and September can be hectic. We’re booking flights, attending parties, buying dresses, and keeping an eye on our bank accounts. Every year is the same, and sometimes the expectations for travel and gift-giving can start to feel more burdensome than fulfilling. Sometimes we forget what it’s all about, what it is we’re celebrating. Then we see our friend, or cousin, or sister walk... Read more
Once again, Christians online are debating about yoga pants. The dreaded, form fitting, athletic wear continue to be a scissor issue between conservative and progressive Christians. What has struck me about the debate is how similar it is to other aspects of Christian sexual teaching. The discussion is entirely centered on male sexuality. Male desire, male urges, and male experience are central while women’s sexuality is reduced to how women ought to react to men. Some go so far as... Read more
I had a really good day yesterday. A few things I’d been hoping for creatively and personally came through all at once. Meanwhile, the death toll in my city continues to rise. Unemployment continues to rise. A good friend is struggling with disruptions to her wedding day. All of this leaves me with complicated feelings. On one hand, I want to express gratitude to God. On the other, I cannot accept the idea that God chose me specifically to bless... Read more
The COVID-19 crisis has cut a lot of things short. Vacations, weddings and reunions have been postponed. My nannying job ended abruptly when the family went to Florida for what we thought would be a couple weeks. My lease expires in late August, and my husband and I will be moving to Brooklyn. This means leaving behind my local parish just as it was starting to feel like home. Now, as we stream our Sunday masses on Facebook Live, I... Read more
Many of us living in the United States have been social distancing for two full months. My husband and I live in Manhattan, and we’ve basically been confined to our studio apartment since March 15th. Last weekend, I met with a small number family members (who have also been distancing) for the first time. We did not hug and we stood apart from each other. However, I’ll admit that I still felt guilty afterwards. Across the country, crowds are gathering... Read more
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted human beings from all walks of life. The inescapable frailty of the human body is always universal, but this illness brings it to the forefront. Pope Francis’ call for for a universal day of prayer on May 14th addresses this reality head-on. By joining with Muslim leaders, he is setting an example for all Catholics by definitively stating that interfaith prayer is necessary and good. Interfaith Prayer and Vatican II Prior to the Second Vatican... Read more
Theater is great because it is ephemeral. Despite being unable to match film and television in terms of reach, realism, or effects, theater has cultural staying power because of the very nature of the format. The community gathers and experiences a singular event. While a play may run for years, that one performance is singular, existing only in the memories of those few who were in the audience on a certain night. In Nicholas Berger’s beautiful, thought-provoking essay The Forgotten... Read more
This weekend, Pope Frances sparked a fierce backlash when he seemed to imply during a homily that Christians should not attempt to convert nonbelievers to Christianity. “In Poland, a university student asked me: “But in university I have many atheist companions. What do I say to convert them?” – “Nothing, dear, nothing! The last thing you need to do is say something. Start by living and they will see.” – Pope Francis Contrary to what some commentators would have us... Read more
Femina Ferox
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